solar
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Renewables
Major Challenges in Further Renewable Integration, Report Says
Global resources of variable renewable energy—primarily wind and solar—despite breakneck growth over the past two decades, are beginning to run up against technological and policy limitations on further deployment, and future growth will depend on significant changes in policy and grid design, according to a new report. Released on September 20, Variable Renewable Energy Sources […]
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Renewables
New Solar Technology Promises Big Gains in Efficiency and Output
After years of incremental advances, a variety of innovations both simple and exotic are promising to boost the output of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems as much as 30% over current technologies—if the market can be convinced to adopt them. The Dawn of SiC For a generation, silicon has been the go-to material for semiconductor substrates. […]
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Renewables
Solar Takes Off the Training Wheels
The global solar market has moved beyond its early, uncertain, freewheeling days. The luxury of behaving like start-ups has passed, and major firms in solar need to “grow up.” That at least was the message from top executives at Solar Power International (SPI), the industry’s largest trade show, in Las Vegas. David Crane of Pegasus […]
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Renewables
Duke Energy Renewables Acquires Solar Projects in Georgia
Duke Energy Renewables, part of Duke Energy’s Commercial Portfolio, announced on September 7 that it will add six Georgia solar projects to the 2.8-GW renewable energy portfolio the company owns and operates. The projects are relatively small in terms of capacity—averaging about 1 MW DC each (769 kW AC)—but they are the first Duke Energy […]
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Press Releases
PG&E Calls for Proposals from Local California Renewable Energy Developers for New Program
August 29, 2016 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) today announced a call for proposals for renewable energy developers to build projects for a new clean energy program available to customers. Approximately half of U.S. households and businesses are unable to install private solar systems due to space […]
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Press Releases
GE Joins With the MIT Energy Initiative to Develop Advanced Technology Solutions for Transforming Global Energy Systems
GE commits to a five-year, $7.5 million membership with MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) GE will become a Sustaining Member of the MITEI and participate in MITEI’s Low-Carbon Energy Centers Furthers GE’s commitment to the Boston area and expertise focused on solutions to carbon reduction CAMBRIDGE, Mass., August 30, 2016–GE (NYSE:GE) announced it will […]
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Legal & Regulatory
N.Y. Approves Nuclear Subsidies and Mandates 50% Renewables by 2030
The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) approved New York’s Clean Energy Standard on August 1, likely saving three upstate nuclear power plants, while requiring 50% of the state’s electricity to come from renewable energy sources by 2030. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) praised the action in a statement following the announcement. “New York has […]
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Commentary
More Communities Choose Their Own Energy Future
As the effects of climate change have increased and renewable energy is becoming cost-competitive with conventional forms of energy generation, more and more towns, cities, and counties are pushing their local utilities to increase the amount of renewables in their energy portfolios. While many utilities are embracing this shift to renewable energy, others are slow […]
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Solar
11 Things to Know About the Solar Sector’s Precarious Future
Despite escalating growth over the past decade, the U.S. solar power sector faces potentially crippling issues concerning module supply, workforce deficiencies, and grid interconnection obstacles, according to industry experts attending an international solar and energy storage convention. The country added an estimated 14.5 GW of new solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in 2016, and by 2021, […]
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Renewables
Germany Backs Measure to Replace Renewable Incentives with Competitive Auctions
Lawmakers in Germany have voted to replace subsidies for wind and solar with competitively priced electricity prices. The country’s upper (Bundesrat) and lower (Bundestag) legislative chambers on July 8 voted to adopt an amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG 2016) introduced by Minister of Economics and Energy Sigmar Gabriel. The legislation aims to […]